The Five Poetic Books (Part 1)

by R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, UK | Category: The Five Poetic Books | Sept 1986

It has often been observed by students of the Word that the books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs lie centrally in the writings of the Old Testament. There are seventeen before and seventeen after them and each book has some great lesson to teach every man and woman of God today. They span a period of approximately 1000 years from the days of Abraham, circa 2000 BC, to those of Solomon, circa 1000 BC; beginning with the man who was the "greatest of all the children of the East" (Job 1:3) and ending with the words of the great, rich, wise king Solomon (2 Chron. 9:22).

Job

Of all the men alive at the time of Job, God must have had an intense interest in him and love for him to mention his name to the Adversary on a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord (1:6-8). God's pleasure in Job is clearly recorded by the Spirit of God in describing him as perfect, upright, one that feared God and eschewed (to shun or avoid) evil. The story, written by an unknown scribe, lifts the curtain on the counsels of God in respect of those He loves. It shows what He is prepared to allow in order that the man of God may be refined as gold now, to fit him for service hereafter. By allowing suffering, the great Designer brings balance into the pattern of human life for His own praise and glory.

In the day that evil was permitted to overtake him, this remarkable man demonstrated that his faith and trust were firmly resting in his God, insomuch that he could say, "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the LORD" (1:21). Later, after being smitten with sore boils, his faith undiminished, he could say, "I know that my Redeemer liveth" (19:25).

Two important lessons arise out of the record of Job's traumatic experience. He gained:

1.a deep appreciation of his God whom he worshipped (1:20);

2.an equal, if not deeper, appreciation of himself as God saw him.

Whereas the majesty and glory of his Maker filled him with awe and wonder, he was led to see himself as of no account (40:4) and to abhor himself (42:6). His faith became so profound that he confessed, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him" (13:15 AV). He thought he knew his God well before his trials but after treading the path of suffering with much uncertainty, he reached the state of mind and heart which enabled him to say, "He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (23:8-10).

The book of Job deals with experiences through which godly men and women must pass in order to become balanced in divine things; the desirable quality, so necessary to divine service. Balance makes a Christian complete, imparting a deep appreciation of God and an equally deep appreciation of oneself.

Psalms

There are five sections, called books, which record for us many personal as well as collective experiences. They vibrate with the daily heartbeats and aspirations of men and women who were born again. New birth is not limited to persons in the New Testament, for men and women are begotten again of the incorruptible seed of the Word of God which liveth and abideth for ever (1 Pet. 1:23-25). Under the direction of the Spirit of God they have recorded for us matters concerning faith, hope, love, song, praise, thanksgiving and worship. As we read through these pages we cannot do other than identify with their experiences because they are ours. The heights of their achievements under God and the depths of their sorrows equate to our own pathway as day-by-day we are led onward to God. There are occasions, however, when the passage surpasses our own experiences and we recognize in them the prophetic utterances concerning the Messiah, which abound in the Psalms.

Many of the declared experiences fill us with thankfulness because they crystallize for us what we wish to say, such as, "Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity" (32:2) and, "the LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want" (32:1) and again, '~he LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?" (27:1). In the days of adversity we have here an abundant source of sayings with which we can immediately identify, such as, "Preserve me, 0 God: for in Thee do I trust" (16:1) and, "Why art thou cast down, 0 my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise Him" (42:5). Also that passage of immense encouragement to God's people, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" (46:1).

There are many passages, uttered in the days of shadow, which we who are in the days of substance delight to apply in the service of the sanctuary. Consider how fitting it is, having partaken of the emblems in remembrance of our Lord Jesus, to use the words of David and say, "Give unto the LORD, 0 ye sons of the mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His Name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness" (29:1-2), and again, "enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: give thanks unto Him, and bless His Name. For the LORD is good: His mercy endureth for ever; and His faithfulness unto all generations" (100:4-5).

In the Psalms we have a deep well of human experience from which men

and women of God can draw comfort, encouragement and spiritual nourishment. May it be so for His Name's sake. Amen.

R.A. Parker, Stoke-on-Trent, UK | Sept 1986
The Five Poetic Books